How do we know if the opioids are helping chronic pain or not?

Doctor Furlan answers 9 questions that were sent by a group of patients in Ontario, Canada.

1. ALL of the participants agreed that your introductory video entitled « Chronic Pain » should be required viewing by all medical professionals....who should then in turn recommend it to their clients/patients. How can we make this happen?

2. How can I speak to my friends and family about my pain when they are generally not supportive?

3. How can I maintain intimacy with my partner when my libido is often wiped out by pain?

4. What can I do if my family doctor either doesn’t believe in chronic pain or doesn’t seem interested in learning about it?

5. What can I do to reduce the bias and stigma I encounter regarding my stable and successful opioid treatment for my chronic pain: a) in the emergency department when there for a new acute pain b) when my doctor is on leave or retires ? The opioid crisis has not been helpful to me in these regards.

6. In Ontario, how can I get a new doctor when I am deemed to be a “complex case”? (always rejected after the interview)

7. Topic: active versus passive treatment/ attitude. “I just want to find the right doctor who will know the right medicine to make this pain go away.”

8. What are your top ten best ideas/ suggestions for someone with chronic pain?

9. When using a multifaceted approach to chronic pain, how can I be sure what is working and what is not? Similarly, if I have been on a particular pain reliever or anti-inflammatory for years... is this safe for my kidneys/ liver—- how can I tell what is an acceptable level of risk?

#drAndreaFurlan #DrFurlan #DoctorFurlan

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ALERT: This video is not intended to replace medical
advice. If you think you have a condition that is
causing you pain, please consult with your doctor
to get a diagnosis and a treatment plan for you.
The intent of this video is only for educational
purposes.
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[lesliefleming]

Eight years ago I used to have a doctor that treated my chronic pain with 120 hydrocodone a month for a year. When the clinic decided to stop prescribing opiates, they cut me off. Never had any withdrawal symptoms though. Just went back to my pain.. That was a good year while it lasted being able to be relatively pain-free at times and able to get out of the house more often

[Declined]

This video does not even come close to addressing what is in its own title. The correct title should have been, “Opiate/Opioid withdrawal”, because that is really the only thing that was mentioned in this short. Cheers!🍻

[Grungefan]

Here's an idea - bring compassion back to medicine.

[armandoestrada]

That's exactly what happened to me. Studying your videos has helped me a lot. Thank you.

[Rae-yvmd]

Helps mine when absolutely nothing else does.

[badgermacleod]

What a steaming heap. This is disgusting gasslighting.
There's a difference between addiction & dependance, but they don't care in the slightest. OUD is their go to diagnosis.

How about measuring opioid levels in the blood four months after you start taking opioids.
When you've been on them for mome time measure the levels in the blood at incriments dependant on the pain levels experienced.
This is a very simple way to determine how quickly the medication is metabolised.
There are other factors that have to be taken into consideration, but this is baseline testing.

Doc's will convince you that you are an addict no matter what your condition may be. That's their SOP, keep the questions pertinent to the issue at hand. Never talk about your past personal experiences, it will be weaponized against you.